'Secure your vote' plea for Moray by-election

JUST three weeks remain until a Moray community goes to the polls, with locals urged to secure their vote.

The Heldon and Laich by-election, triggered when Carolle Ralph stepped down from the local authority, takes place on March 7.

The deadline for applying to vote is 5pm on Wednesday, February 20, while those wishing to vote by proxy have until 5pm on Wednesday, February 27.

To be eligible to vote in the by-election, people need to be on the electoral register and be 18 or over on polling day. Voters can register by contacting the Grampian electoral registration officer at ero@grampian-ero.gov.uk or on 01343 541203. Registration forms can be collected from the electoral registration office at 234 High Street, Elgin, or can also be sent out by post.

Grampian electoral registration officer Ian Milton said: "Now is the time to make sure you can have your say in the local by-election. Make sure you are registered to vote, especially if you have moved house recently. And if you want to vote by post or proxy, rather than braving the winter weather to go to the polling station, then this is the time to sort that out too.

"Residents can print off the relevant form from www.votemoray.org - it takes just a couple of minutes but you need to act now before the deadline of February 20. We don’t want anyone to miss their chance to have a say."

Six candidates are contesting the by-election, with the count taking place at Lossiemouth Town Hall on Friday, March 8.